The Synagogue in Gaziantep: A Testament to Jewish History at the Crossroads of Civilizations
In the historic center of Gaziantep, just a few steps from the bazaars and mosques, stands a two-story stone building with long-closed gates. This is the Gaziantep Synagogue—also known as the Great Synagogue of Gaziantep (Büyük Gaziantep Sinagogu). As recently as the 1970s, the city’s last Jewish residents gathered here to pray; then they left, and the building stood derelict and neglected for a long time. In 2012, thanks to the joint efforts of Turkey’s Jewish community and the government, the synagogue was restored. In 2014, it was opened to visitors. The synagogue in Gaziantep is a rare and poignant testament to the fact that this city was a multi-faith space long before tourists began to take an interest in it.
History and Origins of the Gaziantep Synagogue
Gaziantep is a historically multi-ethnic city: Turks, Arabs, Armenians, Greeks, and Jews have lived here for centuries. The Jewish community was part of city life for centuries, although the exact date of the synagogue’s construction is unknown. The building, with a capacity of several hundred worshippers, indicates that the Jewish community of Gaziantep was quite significant in its time.
The 20th century brought dramatic changes. The establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, nationalist sentiments in Turkey, and economic difficulties led to a mass exodus of Jewish communities from provincial Turkish cities. In the 1970s, the last remaining Jews of Gaziantep left the city. The synagogue closed—without a community, the building could not function. For several decades, it stood empty and fell into disrepair.
In 2012, restoration work was carried out with the support of the Jewish community of Turkey and the Turkish government—a rare example of interfaith partnership in the preservation of cultural heritage in the region. In 2014, the synagogue was opened to visitors. In December 2019, a Hanukkah celebration was held here with about 200 people in attendance—possibly the first such event in Gaziantep in several decades.
The synagogue is not used as an active house of worship: there is no permanent Jewish community in Gaziantep. However, the building retains its original appearance and is open to anyone wishing to learn about the city’s Jewish heritage.
Architecture and What to See
The synagogue is a two-story stone building, large enough to accommodate several hundred worshippers. Its architecture combines local building traditions—hewn stone and facade proportions characteristic of Gaziantep—with elements typical of synagogues in the Middle East and Turkey.
Interior and prayer hall
Following the 2012 restoration, the synagogue’s interior was refurbished. The central prayer hall, with a layout traditional for Sephardic synagogues—the bimah (a platform for reading the Torah) in the center, rows of benches on either side—gives an idea of what the worship space of Gaziantep’s Jewish community looked like. The women’s gallery on the second level, the windows with semicircular arches, and the overall layout preserve the building’s appearance as it was before the synagogue was closed.
Stonework and facade
From the outside, the synagogue makes a modest impression: this is characteristic of synagogues in Muslim countries, where Jewish houses of worship were traditionally built without ostentatious decoration. The stone of the walls has darkened with age; the restoration preserved the building’s authentic appearance without attempting to “refine” it in the modern sense.
Context: Multiconfessional Gaziantep
The synagogue is located in the same historic district as the city’s other religious monuments. Mosques, Armenian churches, and now a synagogue—all are neighbors within a few blocks. For visitors interested in the history of interfaith coexistence, a tour of Gaziantep’s historic center offers a rare opportunity to witness this diversity within a single city.
Interesting Facts and Legends
- In December 2019, the synagogue hosted a Hanukkah celebration attended by about 200 people—presumably one of the first public Jewish events in Gaziantep in many decades.
- The date of the synagogue’s construction is unknown. This is typical for Jewish communities in provincial Turkish cities: the documented history of such buildings is often fragmentary.
- The 2012 restoration was the result of a collaboration between the Jewish community of Turkey and the state. This is a relatively rare example of state involvement in the preservation of non-Turkish religious heritage in the provinces.
- The synagogue remained in use until the 1970s—that is, it survived World War II, the establishment of the State of Israel, and the early years of the Cold War, and it was only the economic and demographic shifts of the postwar decades that brought an end to its active life.
- The Gaziantep synagogue is one of about two dozen active or open-to-the-public synagogues in Turkey—a country where most Jewish places of worship are concentrated in Istanbul.
How to get there
The synagogue is located in the historic center of Gaziantep, within walking distance of the castle and the Alauddin Mosque. Oğuzeli Airport (GZT) is a 20–25-minute taxi ride away. Public transportation will take you to the historic district; the exact address is easy to find using GPS coordinates or a navigation app.
Gaziantep is a compact city; the main attractions of the historic center are concentrated within a 30-minute walking radius. The synagogue can easily be included in a walking tour along with Gaziantep Castle, the mosques, and the Zeugma Mosaic Museum.
Tips for Travelers
The synagogue is open to visitors, but it’s best to check the hours in advance: as an abandoned and non-religious building, it may have irregular hours. Admission is usually free or nominal. We recommend bringing a small light source—the interior may be dimly lit.
The building is located in a residential neighborhood; please respect the neighbors’ peace and do not photograph people without permission. The synagogue is a sensitive religious site for Turkey’s Jewish community—please visit it with due respect.
Gaziantep is, in general, an exceptional city in terms of interfaith history: the mosques, Armenian churches, and synagogue in Gaziantep together form a rare testament to how different religious traditions coexisted within a single city over the course of several centuries.
